Framing design for appropriation with Zones of Proximal Evolution: Email for PIM. Issue 123 (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tchounikine, Pierre
• Is Part Of: International journal of human-computer studies. Issue 123(2019)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: HCI -- Appropriation -- Software adaptation -- Email client -- Personal Information Management -- Plugins and meta-plugins -- Zone of Proximal Development; Human-machine systems -- Periodicals; Systems engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering; Human-machine systems; Systems engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2018.11.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1071-5819

Abstract

Highlights: Software appropriation may be addressed as the process by which users, while interacting with the effective tasks at hand, attribute functional values to software artifacts. Potential technological obstacles to appropriation and/or the difficulties users face due to their appropriation processes outputs must be addressed by making software adaptable. The notions of functional value, instrumental direction and Zone of Proximal Evolution provide a framework to identify potentially useful adaptation means. User scaffolding may be addressed by offering/organizing plugins and meta-plugins. Abstract: Software appropriation is the process by which users adopt applications and make them their own. It is an important concern for HCI because it impacts what users use software for and/or how they use it, which in turn may cause applications to be unsuitable mediators for users' effective activity. We address appropriation as the process by which users, while interacting with the effective tasks at hand, attribute functional values to software artifacts. Taking as an illustration the way that email clients are appropriated as Personal Information Management (PIM) devices, we study why users should be offered adaptation means; how to identify adaptation means that are likely to allow users to solve their problems themselves; and how to address users' scaffolding.